Sunday, January 12, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  CATIE Guest Hotel

Visit:  Mrs. Terán's Private Garden

Tour:  Sólo Rosas Rose Garden

After checking out from the hotel, we will board our private shuttle to Turrialba. Here we will visit Mrs. Ileana Terán's home, see her private garden, and learn as she shares stories and knowledge over coffee and "bocas."

Continuing on to Cartago, the Costa Rica capital in colonial times, we will tour the Sólo Rosas Rose Garden. Our travels continue to the Turrialba Valley, in the shade of the active Turrialba volcano.

Sólo Rosas Rose Garden

Don Martin Guzmán traveled thousands of kilometers to the south of France - with a single objective: to select the best varieties of roses in the world. In 1978, he planted the first 3,000 rose bushes in his botanical garden. The result is this beautiful botanical garden located in Llano Grande de Cartago, on the slopes of the Irazú Volcano, where you will find roses with the most exquisite, colorful, large, abundant and resistant aromas and perfumes.

 Turrialba Situated in the Costa Rican Cartago Province, the small city of Turrialba is home to flourishing agriculture, textile, and tourism industries. Renowned for its amazing white water rafting, visitors can enjoy thrilling excursions down the Pacuare and Reventazon Rivers. This city serves as the gateway to the Costa Rican Caribbean and has been declared as a city of National Archeological Interest. Visitors can explore the largely undiscovered Turrialba Volcano National Park, home of the active Turrialba Volcano.

Monday, January 13, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  CATIE Guest Hotel

Visit:  Hacienda Sitio de Mata

Tour:  CATIE Tropical Agronomic Center for Research and Teaching

In the morning we will visit Hacienda Sitio de Mata, where you will learn about the whole process for the coffee and the sugar cane.  There will be opportunities to try all the different products available! Later in the day we will visit the Tropical Agronomy Center for Research and Learning (CATIE), and see their botanical gardens with plants from around the world.

Hacienda Sitio de Mata Tour

Hacienda Sitio de Mata offers a guided expedition consisting of touring the hacienda, where visitors learn about the different processes of coffee, macadamia and sugar cane. During the tour, visitors also visit a colonial church from 1850 and a plank house built in 1750 on the slopes of the Irazú volcano. The journey includes a Costa Rican typical lunch.

The Botanical Garden of CATIE

Surrounded by the calls of birds, the whisper of the giant Guanacaste tree and the imposing Ceiba, The Botanical Garden of CATIE is a special place to relax. Here, tourists find life ranging from minuscule insects to exquisite orchids, bromeliads and robust stands of bamboo. The garden serves as a laboratory for students and scientists investigating the molecular and morphological characteristics of the conserved species. It is also an educational site, where awareness about environmental conservation and the sustainable use and protection of natural resources is promoted.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

Tour: Lankester Botanical Gardens

Visit: Cartago Central Market

After leaving CATIE and traveling east to the Savegre Hotel Nature Reserve & Spa, we will visit the Lankester Botanical Gardens. The small garden is a research center for the University of Costa Rica, cultivating an array of breathtaking orchids. Afterward, we will return to the town of Cartago, where you will rub elbows with the locals at the Cartago Farmer's Market. 

Lankester Botanical Garden

Lankester Botanical Garden is located in Costa Rica, set on a 11-hectare property providing conservation, exhibition and research of tropical epiphytic plants with a focus on orchids. The botanical garden features over 3000 species of plants, a Japanese Garden, forest with trails, souvenir shop, and a deck area for eating and drinking.

Cartago Central Market

Experience the flavor of Costa Rica at the Cartago Central Market. Wander the crowded aisles where locals gather to buy fruits and vegetables, grab a delicious snack, get a haircut, and stock up on herbs and spices. Savor your afternoon sampling the fresh fruits and taking in the aromas with this authentic, local experience.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

ACTIVITIES

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: La Foresta Nature Resort

Tour: Coopedota Coffee Farm

Visit: La Foresta Nature Resort

Check-out from Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa. and transfer for a morning visit to Coopedota coffee plantations and "Beneficio" (coffee factory), where you will learn about the process of coffee.  The area of Dota is consistently among the highest-ranking coffee producers in the world!

Coopedota Coffee Farm

Based in Santa Maria de Dota, the Coopedota Coffee Tour takes us on a tour of a coffee farm to create public awareness around the process of producing organic coffee in order to protect the earth's natural resources. The farm uses environmentally friendly techniques that work in harmony with the local environment and forest to avoid wasting one of the most precious resources which is water. At the end of the tour, visitors can participate in coffee tastings. 

La Foresta Nature Resort

La Foresta Nature Resort, is a beautiful tropical retreat, in the beautiful Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica - a dream come true for nature lovers. Experience the sights, sounds and bio-diversity of the Costa Rican rainforest combining unique luxury accommodations and warm Costa Rican hospitality.  This charming, 100-acre, boutique resort is surrounded by nature’s exotic landscapes and tropical gardens, with more than 3 miles of trails for guided walks. In addition, our reserve is habitat for more than 40 species of trees, at least 100 species of birds, 50 species of butterflies, 20 different mammal species and 15 different reptiles and amphibians. 

Thursday, January 16, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging:  La Foresta Nature Resort

Visit:  Villa Vanilla 

Free Afternoon: Relax!

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Villa Vanilla and take the Rainforest Spices Farm Tour. Later in the day you will have free time to spend relaxing at the beach, reserve a spa treatment, hang out at the hotel, or go shopping in Quepos.

Villa Vanilla Rainforest Spices Farm Tour

Villa Vanilla Rainforest Spices Farm Tour takes place at the magical Villa Vanilla Spice Plantation located in the Central Pacific rain forest, overlooking Manuel Antonio National Park. Spanning over 27 acres of agriculture production and 125 acres of primary and secondary rainforest, this expansive farmland houses vanilla, as well as true Ceylon cinnamon, cocoa, black pepper, allspice, turmeric, and a variety of exotic fruits, essential oil and medicinal plants. This serene tour allows participants to experience the sights, tastes, and aromas of the spices, meander along the winding plantation trail and shop for souvenirs to take home.

Free Time!

Spend the afternoon exploring the area, shopping in the small town of Quepos, booking a massage, hanging out at the pool, or escaping to your hotel room. It's your choice!

Friday, January 17, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Lodging: La Foresta Nature Resort

Visit: Manuel Antonio National Park

Experience: Local Flavors of Costa Rica

Enjoy the morning strolling through Manuel Antonio National Park taking in all it has to offer. The park is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and popular during the high season. Grab an early breakfast so we can arrive to the park ahead of the crowds. We will leave Manual Antonio for lunch and enjoy an afternoon filling our senses with local cuisine ingredients as we prepare and make dinner together.

Manuel Antonio National Park

Set just south of Quepos, on Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast is the Manuel Antonio National Park. Boasting enthralling rain forests,  beaches, and gorgeous coral reefs, this is an ultimate destination for outdoor explorers. In the forests, hikers may see iguanas, sloths, snakes, lizards, butterflies, different types of monkeys and brightly colored tiny crabs. The forest is a mecca for birdwatchers - there are more than 350 spectacular bird species including toucans and emerald amazon kingfishers.

Some of the best beaches are the Playa Espadilla Sur and Playa Manuel Antonio, and the conditions for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing, are excellent here. We will have plenty of time for a swim in the ocean, walk along the beach, or catching some rays.

Notes:

1. It is forbidden to bring any meals or snacks inside the park.  Only water, in non-disposable bottles is allowed. Your bags will be checked at the entrance by park rangers.

2. Wear your swimming suit underneath your clothes, as the lines to the changing rooms are very long! Bring a towel from the hotel to dry yourself after your swim in the ocean.

3. Wear comfortable walking shoes, you will need to walk on pebbly trails for about one mile.

Local Flavors of Costa Rica

Experience a fun and informative tour of local cuisine: you will learn about the organic origins of the ingredients, how dishes are prepared, and how to recreate recipes at home. First stop at the local farmers market in Quepos, where you will have the opportunity to browse the stands and pick out ingredients for your dinner, with assistance from your guide. At our private ranch and dining area in the small town of Londres, your team will guide you through our organic garden to pick out some finishing flavors, colors and textures for your meal, before instructing you on food preparation. Participate in the kitchen and experience the process of making corn tortillas by hand, exotic “ceviches” with plantain or banana, rice cooked the old-fashioned way, chicken in a hearty tomato sauce, “picadillos” (minced meats and veggies and spices combined), and more. Once you sit down for your meal, not only will your appetite be satiated but also your curiosity for Costa Rican local flavors.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

ACTIVITIES:

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner

Lodging: Hotel Don Ernesto

Visit: Cacao Farm (TBD)

Visit: The Green Ark

Check-out from La Foresta Nature Resort. Travel back to the Central Valley, stopping en route to tour a working chocolate farm and sample their products.  We will then proceed to The Green Ark, where we will enjoy lunch followed by a tour with its terraces of different crops. 

In the evening, share a Farewell Dinner at Hotel Don Ernesto

Cacao Santo

On the  Cacao Santo chocolate tour, you will visit a plantation of cacao and learn about the plant parts, and its biological and cultural characteristics. At Cacoa Santo they focus on making chocolate using the traditional Mesoamerican methods, without the use of modern processing equipment.

The Green Ark

The Green Ark is located in Santa Barbara de Heredia, Costa Rica, and is a foundation that aims to educate and share knowledge of the use of plants. The botanical garden features different terraces, including a Medicinal garden, a culinary garden, a tropical food garden, an essential oils garden and a natural colorants garden. You will enjoy walking around the garden on our guided tour.

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Check-out from Hotel Don Ernesto. Transfer from the hotel to Juan Santamaria International Airport [SJO]

INCLUDED:

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer: To SJO Airport

It’s time to go back to reality; we hope to have fulfilled your expectations.
Buen viaje!  We hope to see you again soon on another Discover Garden Tour.

Pura vida!

Note: For international flights, airlines suggest to be at the Airport 3 hours in advance.